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"We're all doomed Cap'n Mainwaring, we're all doomed'!! FFS people get a grip!!

The Sheffield promotion stated on Thursday that will not sign any rider who has a contract to ride in Poland, so none of them will be riding for us Would be good if the only facility for a rider missing a meeting in England was a NL guest as well

I'm sorry to say if I was james I would be looking else where next season after he was the scapegoat for under performing riders last time around if he had been an aussie he may have keep his place just my opinion

That’s because he is gash. If you can’t get signed up in either of your home leagues - that speaks volumes (although probably wants too much dosh for his current abilities!

What sort of an attitude is that?

Probably the most sensible post you've ever made :-)

Good luck to any rider who wants to ride in Poland, but its time for our BSPA to stand firm and rule that no facility will be given when the inevitable fixture clash comes along. For most riders Poland will always be first choice but there`s a number of riders who find out the hard way that its not always sweetness and light.

You can not race against yourself. It is 6 other teams, twice!

Not saying there won't be accusations of manipulation but what would have been your solution to a five team top league then?

It is what it is. I think Buster has saved the Prem as well as keeping one club going, and maybe 2( Don't know what was going on at Ippo) . I'm pretty sure he has done it in the interest of the sport. I suspect there is a buy back clause in there somewhere. No doubt Buster will have a wage limit, but he said Chris will carry on so I don't think theres a worry of fixing meetings, if that's your worry. Buster wouldn't want that and Chris would never agree, and i'm sure he can't wait to get one over the Stars. Looking forward to it.

Good to see your still full of shyte too

If the NL turns into a glorified SDL who is going to pay to watch it. Last season most clubs were charging £13, which was too much for the product on offer. For those clubs left in a watered down NL, it's going to be hard to sell their product to Joe Public.

2 out of 7 not bad guess for a half wit

It is just plain wrong that two or more clubs in the same league are under the influence of the same person/company/promoters. No other self respecting sport allows this and casts massive doubt on the integrity of speedway, the independence of teams and indeed its long term survival. Yes it would be good to have an overall supremo - but that person must have no ties to an individual club/team/league.

If two of the other clubs(or maybe even just one) had pulled out, the Premiership would have folded no matter what Chapman did. It isn't just down to him. However, it is down to him buying into Peterborough & Ipswich that the Premiership is able to continue in 2019. It is typical of the attitude of some members of this forum that a man saving not just a team but an entire league can be twisted into something suitable for negative comment. Its little wonder that the forum itself is often regarded as utterly without credibility.

For what it’s worth I don’t believe Cook and a few others should be anywhere near the Championship, There needs to be a definitive gap between the top two leagues and Cook and some others are too good and too expensive for the Championship. i can’t see the entertainment value in some riders crossing the finishing line when others are entering the third bend

Starting the season with 7 teams, can we really have 4 teams qualifying for the play-offs? More teams qualify than don't?! Some sporting credibility could be maintained if only the top 3 qualify, with the team finishing top going straight into the final.

I'm pretty sure, Louis will still hold the right's to the assets. A commercial owner is exactly that. He will be able to take any finances that come into the club. This will include all loan fees for any of the club's assets etc. What he will not be allowed to do is sell the assets, this will be down to Louis. It isn't just rider's he cannot sell. This will be assets Louis owns like tractors, graders, etc. In simple terms, a commercial owner is in financial control of all things in and out. Existing assets are out of his control. I wouldn't worry as a Witch fan, your club is in safe hands financially and Louis is still there keeping a close eye. Enjoy your 1st year back in the top flight and be prepared to be thrashed home and away by the Stars, just suck it up Joking aside, really, don't worry

I don't think that would be fair, which doesn't mean they wouldn't do it. Nicolai Klindt is (bizarrely) a 6.61 rider in the Premiership and a 6.94 rider in the Championship (maybe more motivated when riding for Poole?) - surely they would take the highest, i.e. convert the Premiership average to get fair (and more realistic) figure for the 2019 Championship (9.91)?

Do not take any notice of him,he is just wasting eveyones time. I have an email from KK that says it is Eagles and Brum. Just disappointed that Kent will be left in a poor NL,which will be no better than SDL.

Both the deals for Ipswich and Peterborough are "Commercial deals" so think we need to know what this actually means.... Has Chapman bought everything or just a chunk to that both clubs would enable the PL to continue with 7 clubs?

I'm no fan of the BSPA or Chapman. They have done nothing this year to show that there is even the beginnings of an effective plan to overcome the many current problems but to suggest that the end is nigh and imminent is ridiculous. It may be that if no radical plan is devised that riders will have to realise that most, if not all, will have to become semi professional but I would be very surprised if team speedway is still not about for the foreseeable future.

Lawson?

Me too, very weird

If the conversion rate of 1.5 applies to this year's Premiership averages, with a team limit of 38, I would have thought a premiership 6-6.5 point rider would be realistic for a number one for 2019, so maybe Nicholls, King, Wells, or Even Josh Bates could be the Lions number 1. It would be nice if the BSPA published lists of applicable averages for each league for next year.

No team spirit is important. Just cant see why Poole would want Harris back apart from the morale he brings to other riders................it wont be for his scoring and he pretty much went missing in the play off finals didnt even win a race over the two legs I get what he brings to a team but surely Poole should look forward not backwards

Because in the Championship you have 11 other teams to race against, as opposed to 6 other teams in the Premiership. Actually quite surprised to see all of the doom and gloom about dropping down to this league. I’m sure the likes of Lakeside fans would take your place in heartbeat!

You may as well delete this thread, black heart started one with the same title two days ago and I know how you hate it when someone does that

That may be Chapman's long term plan. Own as many PL side's as he can, pick off a few more from CL or NL, then form a breakaway competition. Totally under one leadership with no conflict or self interest in the league make up. He's categorically made it clear he loves this sport, I believe him in that. He'll get things wrong, as does any owner or leader does. It's about how, when and how quickly he can recover those mistakes. I believe this AGM has been exactly what was required. By no means just a shuffling of the chairs as some state. He has put his money where his mouth is and for British Speedway overall I cannot sit here and knock someone who's willing to lose it all for the sake of loving a sport. A new 5 year plan is in place. One I also believe is the right direction. Fingers crossed firmly that we can now see some genuine British talent come through also, all the doors are there to come through. The only thing I ask is please Keith Chapman, as a Stars fan, you must make a change to the race track at King's Lynn. It needs to be and should be one of the best tracks in the UK.

I think its understandable for fans of all 3 clubs to have some reservations about the situation but until any actions prove otherwise then I am happy to take the positives for all parties The league structure has been stabilised The Witches are in the league that in 2019 best suits them Peterboroughs future is extended Kings Lynn fans get to feel all superior for a while (temporarily of course )

We were in a different position as there was a chance of the club not running with Rathbone wanting out so I guess most are just happy that we’re running. I feel uneasy about it all and would like a decent statement from Rathbone as a lot of questions unanswered regarding the whole situation. Comments at the end of last season suggested travelling and the future direction of the sport were his reasons for wanting out. New owner doesn’t change that so would be nice to know why it’s changed and how he’s going to work with chapman which from the outside always looked like a bad relationship between the two, particularly after the whole Jack Hilder mess.

We are positive because we are running next season which again was put in jeopardy.

Given that the Premier and Championship leagues (Promoters) recognize the National League as a training league, I am surprised that they have never included the NL Promoters in their AGM's. The Development Leagues are the lower echelon of speedway and are the real feeder route into the sport. The NL suffers from the fact that riders who improve their averages provide a dilemma for the promoters as they cannot all be included in the following years points averages at this level. Given that the higher leagues seem to prefer to give opportunities to foreign riders then it will remain that very few NL riders will have lengthy careers. There is a need for a joined-up route for youngsters towards the upper echelons of the game. Some of the promoters need to put the riders careers ahead of their own financial gains with a view to creating strength-in-depth with British riders. In the long term supporters, in general, go to watch particular riders and would prefer to see their favourites rising through the leagues rather than dropping out because their averages do no fit. I am not advocating a free for all approach as again just a few clubs would be capable of purchasing the best riders, yet on the other side of the coin then there is something in respect of a Control Body placing riders in teams.

Gary doesnt tell rubbish, he says it as it is. If he did give Jack a boll--cking then it would have been early days, but he's had no problem with him last season. And i would believe Gary.

Not true at all. May had to threaten him with the sack.

After taking four and a half points out of the limit I would get used to it, riders averaging around six points are going to become very valuable. Thankfully my team have built teams full of riders like that for years, ironic that with the points limit as it is now they may not take to the track.

Shame about dropping down, although more home meetings gives me more of a chance to visit the OTA as I was only able to attend a couple of meetings last year. I think in terms of the team start with Charles and Nico and then build from there. I would like to see Henry Atkins in Rebels colours due to his history with the club, my only worry is that it might be a little too soon and could knock his confidence going forward.

Actually it would still only be 2.5% over

League winners straight to the final, with pick of home or away in the final 1st leg.. After all the league toppers have done it over a season..2nd and 3rd to battle it out over 2 legs to join them. So top 3 out of 7.

Well Buster will have to wait at least another year before he gets his hands on Poole! As for a Bernie Ecclestone/Barry Hearn character, can somebody tell me what team sports either of these or similar have taken on and made more successful? Its one thing to promote individuals in sports that are indoors and under cover in modern fit-for-purpose venues, giving the participants gladitorial personas and big fanfares!! What would be in it for such an entrepreneur to take on speedway?

The problem with dropping the NL limit too low is that it will reduce riders careers to 2-3 years max. Half decent new 3 pointer signs or 3 pointer from this year with experience and betters the rest of the newcomers so ends with a 5 point average. Next season that 5 pointer moves up to an 8 point rider. Season after nobody can accommodate them in a NL side but they are not good enough to step up to the Championship so career over.

None that I know of. Indeed, its possible that tracks will close if it is that low, as there is a belief that people won't pay to watch little more than a training session. I really don't see why the NL should be forced to do something that the majority of its members simply don't want, whatever that may be. They should be left alone to decide their own destiny.

WHY pay for a rider you can get for nothing?

the last line is quite disturbing . no rider will be able to name his price after all the posts on here pointing out that most, if not all clubs lost money . its time to grab the bull by the horns and waken up . shell out big bucks to top men or reserves will destroy your club . get real people . its sad to see lots of fans wanting fantastic riders , but they dont pay the bills . get real promotors . ho silly money and lots of British riders , if poss !

If Buster hadn't stepped in, what would there be.... a 5 team top league and possibly 2 more lost clubs. Its far from ideal but better than the alternative.

The big issue for me is, I've lost two of my Local tracks, Lakeside and Rye House in the last couple of months. I wished someone with a few bob could have come in and saved both venues.

We will see soon i suppose Edit: There you go no problems with Thursdays now. Looking forward to our local rivalries commencing again against Peterborough and especially Ipswich,it's been to long

That would just leave the bottom clubs trying to lose matches matter in the season so they had an advantage a year later.

One seasons experience of him at Berwick was more than enough to see he wasn’t fit for purpose

Fair play, never having smoked or drunk or gambled. But i have a different perspective. I've known alcoholics who are lovely people. People with gambling addictions. I wouldn't class them as scumbags, given that I happen to like a drink but am lucky enough to be able to choose when I drink. I know a number of people who were incredibly nice until they got hooked on Crystal meth - yes obviously not a smart thing to take, but the scumbags to me are those who sell that crsp not the addicts.